Convertible split-level ladder



1966 N. A. RABELOS CONVERTIBLE SPLIT-LEVEL LADDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1964 Fig.2

Fig. /0

Nicholas A. Rube/0s INVENTOR.

BY My, 19m

1956 N. A. RABELOS CONVERTIBLE SPLIT-LEVEL LADDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1964 Fig. 3

Nicholas A Rube/as INVENTOR.

Feb. 22, 1966 N. A. RABELOS CONVERTIBLE SPLIT-LEVEL LADDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15, 1964 Nicholas A. Rube/0s INVENTOR.

Q BY United States Patent Ofifice 3,2353% Patented Feb. 22, 1966 CGNVERTIBLE SPLIT-LEVEL LADBER Nicholas A. Rabelos, 2448A Morosgo Way NE, Atlanta 24, Ga.

Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,011 4 Claims. (Cl. 182-26) The present invention generally relates to a ladder construction and more particularly to a ladder which may be converted from an extension ladder to a stepladder which is especially useful when it has to be supported on multiple or split-level surfaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible ladder having two ladder sections which may be orientated in intersecting relation or as an extension of each other together with a novel means for interconnecting the ladder sections to securely retain the sections in various relationships for forming a convertible ladder which may be easily converted from one use to another and which may be effectively employed in various orientations in a safe and secure manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible ladder which may be readily erected and collapsed to a compact condition and which is long lasting and sturdy, safe in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a split-level convertible ladder havin what may be considered a. main ladder section and an auxiliary ladder section with means interconnecting the two for retaining the ladder sections in longitudinal extension or with the upper ends thereof adjacent each other and the lower ends spaced apart or with the upper end of the main section connected to a central part of the auxiliary section for use with the lower ends of the main section and auxiliary sections supported from different elevations thereby rendering the ladder highly utilitarian since it may be employed in localities previously incapable of supporting stepladders or the like.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

EGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the ladder of the present invention illustrating the device in use as a stepladder;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the ladder construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the structural features of the interconnecting means between the ladder sections;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating the ladder sections disposed in adjacent relation to each other;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the connecting means between the ladder sections;

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the hook mechanism for supporting a paint bucket or the like;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating one manner of use of the ladder of the present invention associated with a plurality of steps;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the ladder construction of the present invention used as an extension ladder;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view illustrating the ladder construction of the present invention employed as a stepladder and illustrating the manner in which the upper portion of the ladder may be straddled by the user; and

FIGURE 10 is a detailed sectional view illustrating a structure in which the components of the ladder are constructed of metal.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the ladder construction of the present invention including a main ladder section gen erally designated by the numeral 12 and an auxiliary ladder section generally designated by the numeral 14. The main ladder section includes a pair of side rails or stiles 16 and 18 which diverge downwardly slightly and are retained in spaced relation by a plurality of steps 20 supported between the side rails 16 and 18 and being supported by metal rods 22 extending thereunder and being secured to the side rails 16 and 18 by suitable retaining members 24. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, when the ladder is in use as a stepladder, the steps 20 are generally horizontal and the outer edges thereof project slightly beyond the edges of the side rails 16 and 18.

The auxiliary ladder section 14 includes a pair of side rails or stiles 26 and 28 which are substantially parallel and interconnected by a plurality of rod-like rungs 28 which are secured in place by any suitable fastening means such as screw-threaded fasteners, adhesive or other bonding material or the like. The rungs 23 as well as the steps 20 are spaced longitudinally apart a sufiicient distance to enable a person using the ladder to easily progress from step to step or rung to rung of the ladder.

The lower end of each of the side rails 16 and 18 as well as side rails 26 and 28 are inclined and provided with a resilient pad or foot 32 thereon. Also, the upper ends thereof are inclined as at 34. Also, the longitudinal inner edges of the side rails 26 and 28 are each provided with longitudinally spaced notches 36 therein which are in alignment with the ladder rungs 3% for engagement with an elongated rod 38 extending between a pair of connecting brackets 40 and 42 interconnecting the upper ends of the ladder sections 12 and 14 in a manner described hereinafter.

The side rails 16 and 18 have a hook member 44 attached thereto above a step 20 adjacent the upper end of the rails 16 and 18 with the hook 44 having an offset end secured to the side rail by suitable fastening nuts 46. The hook 44 opens upwardly when it rests against the inner edge of the shelf 20 and is capable of being pivoted upwardly to a position alongside of the rail to which it is attached thus being retained in concealed and retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE 4. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the book 44 opens upwardly when in operative positions for engaging one of the ladder rungs 3% as illustrated in FIGURE 8 for retaining the ladder sections in alignment for use as an extension ladder. In this condition, the rod 38 is received in one of the notches 36 and is retained therein by inturned lugs 43 on the free ends of the straps 4t and 42. As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the rod 38 is secured to the connecting straps or brackets 40 by fastener nuts 50 and the end of each bracket 40 and 42 secured to the side rails 16 and 18 is downturned as at 52 and secured to the corresponding side rails 16 or 18 by a retaining bolt 54- or equivalent fastening device which pivotally supports the bracket 40 or 42 from the respective stiles or side rails.

Pivotally attached to the rail 38 is a hook-shaped member 56 which has a hook 57 on the free end thereof for engagement over the ladder rung 3t) associated therewith for retaining the side rails 26 and 28 in engagement with the rod 38 with the rod 38 engaged in one of the notches 36 in the inner surface of the rails 26 and 28 and with the outer surface of the rails being engaged by the lugs 48 thus retaining the assembly in position as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The upper end of each side rail 16 and 18 is provided with a slot 58 having a hook-shaped member 60 pivotally attached therein by a pivot pin or bolt 6-2 with the hook-shaped end 64 being disposed against the outer surface of the bracket 44) or 42 when in operative position as illustrated in FIGURE 6 and being foldable inwardly between the inner surface of the side rails when in inoperative condition for effectively supporting a pail or bucket with a bail thereon as designated by numeral 66 in FIGURE 9 on either side of the ladder which is especially useful when Washing windows or the like since the cleaning material may be in one bucket and the rinsing material in another. For retaining the brackets 40 and 42 in operative position, a bolt 68 is provided therethrough having a wing nut '70 on the inner end thereof which retains the brackets 40 and 42 in the operative position as illustrated in all of the figures, except in FIG- URE 4, which shows the position of the brackets 4b and 4-2 when the ladder is completely collapsed for storage or shipment.

FIGURE 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which side rails may be of channel-shaped metal construction as designated by numeral 16' and the steps 20' are also constructed of metallic material such as an aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy or the like. A connecting bracket 40' is provided with an inwardly extending lug 48' on the end thereof and a rod 38' for engagement with the side rails of an auxiliary section when assembled therewith.

When the ladder is to be used as a stepladder as} illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3 and 9 and also in FIGURE 5, the sections 12 and 14 on the ladder are spread apart and orientated in such a manner that the rod 38 engages the uppermost notch 36 and when the sections 12 and 14 have been spread apart so that the rod 38 is firmly engaged in the uppermost notch 36 and the outer edges of the rails 12 and 14 engage the lugs 48, the hook-shaped member 56 is then engaged with the uppermost rung thus securely interlocking the rod 38 and the notches 36 to prevent collapsing movement of the sections of the ladder. Buckets 66 may be hung on the hooks 60 as deemed desirable and a person may ascend the ladder from either side thereof and may even straddle the top of the ladder while performing some desired function.

In order to employ the ladder as illustrated in FIGURE 7 in association wit-h a plurality of steps '72 or a splitlevel assembly, it is only necessary to release the hook 56, pivot the sections 12 and 14 toward each other until the' lock rod 38 is released from the uppermost notch. The auxiliary section 14 is then moved upwardly in relation to the main section 12 and the rod 38 brought into engagement with the proper notch 36 and the sections 12 and 14 are then spread apart and when the outer edges of the side rails 26 and 28 engages the inturned lugs 48 with the rod 38 in the desired notch 36, the hookshaped member Se is again used to securely interlock the sections 12 and 14 so that there can be no accidental collapse or folding of the ladder while it is being used as a split level stepladder which not only enables a person to ascend from either side thereof but also enables two persons to ascend the ladder if desired or if some operation being performed requires the presence of two persons.

When converting the ladder to an extension ladder as illustrated in FIGURE 8, the auxiliary section 14 is inserted between the rod 38 and the main section 12 and the hooks 44 swung to operative positions and engaged with one of the rungs 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 8.

For folding or storing the ladder, the brackets 42 may be pivoted to a collapsed condition by removing the bolt 68 and the brackets 40 and 42 are then swung upwardly. Also, the books 44 are swung upwardly and the main and auxiliary sections may be disposed in side-by-side relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 4 thus enabling the ladder to be compactly stored or packaged for shipment.

While the ladder of the present invention has general utility, it is especially useful around homes and other areas where ladders sometimes have to be supported from different elevations and ladders must serve many purposes and uses. Thus, by using the ladder of the present invention, there will be no necessity of having separate extension ladders and step ladders since the present invention will serve all purposes now being served by both stepl-adders and extension ladders and will serve additional purposes not now served by either extension ladders or stepladders.

As set forth previously, the ladder structure may be constructed of wood components or other material such as aluminum or magnesium that are now employed in some ladder structures for maintaining the lightweight characteristics thereof while yet retaining the strength and safety characteristics.

As illustrated, the notches 36 are disposed in alignment with the ladder rungs so that the hook 57 can be used. However, such notches may be spaced two to four inches apart for registry with the rod 38 at various adjusted positions of the auxiliary section. When the ladder is fully opened, the rod 38 will be locked and retained in any one of the notches 36.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A convertible ladder comprising a main ladder section and an auxiliary ladder section, bracket means attached to the upper end of the main ladder section and engageable with the auxiliary ladder section, said bracket means including inwardly extending lugs engaging the outer edges of the auxiliary ladder section, said bracket means including additional means interengaging the ladder sections for retaining the ladder sections selectively in intersecting relation, downwardly diverging relation or in longitudinally extending relation whereby the ladder may be used in various ways, said additional means including an elongated transverse rod, said auxiliary ladder section including a series of longitudinally spaced notches in the inner edge thereof for receiving said rod, and means mounted on said rod and interengaging said sections for retaining the rod locked in a selective notch in opposed relation to the lugs for securing the sections in adjusted relation, said bracket means including a pair of elongated straps each having one end pivotally attached to the main ladder section, a lock bolt securing one of said straps in substantially perpendicular relation to the main ladder section and enabling the straps to be pivoted to a position in alignment with the main ladder section when removed, the ends of said straps remote from the main ladder section having said inwardly extending lugs thereon for engaging the outer surface of the auxiliary ladder section, said transverse rod extension rigidly between intermediate portions of the straps for engaging one of said longitudinally spaced notches in the auxiliary ladder section.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said main ladder section includes a pair of side rails, each of said side rails having a slot in the upper end thereof, a hook member mounted pivotally in each of said slots for pivotal movement between an inoperative position projecting inwardly of the side rails and an operative position projecting laterally outwardly of the side rails for receiving bucket handles or the like.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said ladder sections includes horizontally extending transverse members interconnecting the side rails, the main ladder section having hook means mounted on a side rail 6 thereof below the bracket means for engaging a transverse References Cited by the Examiner member of the auxiliary section for retaining the sections UNITED STATES PATENTS in longitudinally extending relationship for use as an extension ladder, said side rails having said notches formed 587,608 8/1897 Richey in the inner edges thereof. 5 2,589,079 3/ 1952 Heaiviiin 18226 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means 2 909 23 0 1959 Rabelos 132 26 mounted on said rod includes a hook pivotally mounted thereon for engagement with an adjacent transverse mem- HARRISON MOSELEY Primary her on the auxiliary section for securing the rod in the notches thereby retaining the sections in adjusted position. 10 REINALD P. MACHADO, Examiner. 

1. A CONVERTIBLE LADDER COMPRISING A MAIN LADDER SECTION AND AN AUXILIARY LADDER SECTION, BRACKET MEANS ATTACHED TO THE UPPER END OF THE MAIN LADDER SECTION AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE AUXILIARY LADDER SECTION, SAID BRACKET MEANS INCLUDING INWARDLY EXTENDING LUGS ENGAGING THE OUTER EDGES OF THE AUXILIARY LADDER SECTION, SAID BRACKET MEANS INCLUDING ADDITIONAL MEANS INTERENGAGING THE LADDER SECTIONS FOR RETAINING THE LADDER SECTIONS SELECTIVELY IN INTERSECTING RELATION, DOWNWARDLY DIVERGING RELATION OR IN LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RELATION WHEREBY THE LADDER MAY BE USED IN VARIOUS WAYS, SAID ADDITIONAL MEANS IN CLUDING AN ELONGATED TRANSVERSE ROD, SAID AUXILIARY LADDER SECTION INCLUDING A SERIES OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED NOTCHES IN THE INNER EDGE THEREOF FOR RECEIVING SAID ROD, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ROD AND INTERENGAGING SAID SECTIONS FOR RETAINING THE ROD LOCKED IN A SELECTIVE NOTCH IN OPPOSED RELATION TO THE LUGS FOR SECURING THE SECTIONS IN ADJUSTED RELATION, SAID BRACKET MEANS INCLUDING A PAIROF ELONGATED STRAPS EACH HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE MAIN LADDER SECTION, A LOCK BOLT SECURING ONE OF SAID STRAPS IN SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR RELATION TO THE MAIN LADDER SECTION AND ENABLING THE STRAPS TO BE PIVOTED TO A POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAIN LADDER SECTION WHEN REMOVED, THE ENDS OF SAID STRAPS REMOTE FROM THE MAIN LADDER SECTION HAVING SAID INWARDLY EXTENDING LUGS THEREON FOR ENGAGING THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE AUXILIARY LADDER SECTION, SAID TRANSVERSE ROD EXTENSION RIGIDLY BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF THE STRAPS FOR ENGAGING ONE OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY SPACED NOTCHES IN THE AUXILIARY LADDER SECTION. 